Primary Source
Letter

John Hancock to George Washington, 6 July 1776

John Hancock transmits the Declaration of Independence to George Washington, requesting it be proclaimed to the Army.

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Sounds of quill scratching and a private study in colonial Philadelphia with light city noises of people talking and walking by fading in and out.

Philadelphia July 6th 1776.

Sir,

The Congress, for some Time past, have had their Attention occupied by one of the most interesting and important Subjects, that could possibly come before them, or any other Assembly of Men.

Altho it is not possible to foresee the Consequences of Human Actions, yet it is nevertheless a Duty we owe ourselves and Posterity, in all our public Counsels, to decide in the best Manner we are able, and to leave the Event to that Being who controuls both Causes and Events to bring about his own Determinations.

Impressed with this Sentiment, and at the same Time fully convinced, that our Affairs may take a more favourable Turn, the Congress have judged it necessary to dissolve the Connection between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and to declare them free & independent States; as you will perceive by the enclosed Declaration, which I am directed to transmit to you, and to request you will have it proclaimed at the Head of the Army in the Way, you shall think most proper.

Agreeable to the Request of Congress, the Committee of Safety of this Colony have forwarded to you ten Thousand Flints; and the Flints at Rhode Island are ordered to be sent to you immediately.

It is with great Pleasure I inform you, that the Militia of this Colony, of Delaware Government, and Maryland, are, and will be every Day in Motion to form the flying Camp; and that all the Militia of this Colony will soon be in the Jersey, ready to receive such Orders as you shall please to give them.

I have wrote to Governor Cooke to engage immediately, and send forward as fast as possible, fifty ship Carpenters to General Schuyler for the Purpose of building Vessels on the Lakes. Fifty are already gone from hence on that Business.

The Congress having directed the Arms taken on Board the Scotch Transports to be sent to you, I have wrote to the Agents in Rhode Island and Massachussetts Bay to forward them immediately.

The enclosed Copy of a Letter from Mr Green I am directed to forward by Congress, with a Request that you will order such Parts of the Stores therein mentioned to New York as you shall judge proper. I have the Honour to be Sir, with perfect Esteem your most obedt & very hble Servt

John Hancock Prest

Repository

Library of Congress

Source Note

This manuscript is in the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress. View the original manuscript.

View this record at Founders Online

Image Credit

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Library of Congress record.

Signed manuscript from John Hancock to George Washington, 6 July 1776, page one.

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Library of Congress record.

Signed manuscript from John Hancock to George Washington, 6 July 1776, page two.

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Library of Congress record.

Signed manuscript from John Hancock to George Washington, 6 July 1776, page three.

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Library of Congress record.

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John Hancock to George Washington, 6 July 1776

Authors

1
John Hancock

Wealthy merchant who served as president of the Continental Congress during the vote for independence and later as governor of Massachusetts.

Recipients

1
George Washington

Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War who became the first U.S. president, setting key precedents for federal government.

Place Written

1
May 1765

910

29 May 1765

Virginia Resolves, 29 May 1765
April 1772

451

1 April 1772
Handwritten document.

Virginia House of Burgesses' Petition Against the Importation of Slaves from Africa, 1 April 1772
October 1774

911

14 October 1774
Handwritten manuscript.

Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 14 October 1774

823

20 October 1774
Printed broadside.

Continental Association, 20 October 1774
February 1775

575

16 February 1775

Massachusetts Spy, 16 February 1775
November 1775

175

7 November 1775
Print text. In large letters near the top it reads "A Proclamation."

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, 7 November 1775
January 1776

108

1 January 1776
Cursive text.

Liberty Further Extended; or, Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping, by Lemuel Haynes
1 January 1776
Cursive text.

Liberty Further Extended; or, Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping, by Lemuel Haynes
June 1776

436

7 June 1776
Handwritten document.

Thomas Jefferson, Notes of Proceedings in the Continental Congress, 7 June–1 August 1776
7 June 1776
Handwritten document.

Thomas Jefferson, Notes of Proceedings in the Continental Congress, 7 June–1 August 1776

892

7 June 1776
Cursive handwritten text

Lee Resolution, 7 June 1776

588

11 June 1776
Fragment of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson's handwriting.

Thomas Jefferson, Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence, circa 11 June–4 July 1776
11 June 1776
Fragment of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson's handwriting.

Thomas Jefferson, Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence, circa 11 June–4 July 1776

374

11 June 1776
Cursive handwriting, featuring strikeouts and insertions of text.

Thomas Jefferson, “original Rough draught” of the Declaration of Independence, 11 June–4 July 1776
11 June 1776
Cursive handwriting, featuring strikeouts and insertions of text.

Thomas Jefferson, “original Rough draught” of the Declaration of Independence, 11 June–4 July 1776

587

28 June 1776
Cursive handwriting.

John Adams's Copy of the Declaration of Independence, before 28 June 1776
July 1776

893

2 July 1776
Paragraph of cursive handwritten text. Below are two columns written sideways.

Adoption of the Lee Resolution, 2 July 1776

55

4 July 1776
Front of the engrossed parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776, with the title "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" and the signatures of the Continental Congress delegates at the bottom.

Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776

146

9 July 1776
Handwritten copy of the General Orders, 9 July 1776, page one.

General Orders, 9 July 1776

61

10 July 1776
Cursive text from the Issac Bangs journal, page 91.

Extract from Isaac Bangs's Journal, 10 July 1776
November 1776

454

28 November 1776

Declaration of Dependence, 28 November 1776
May 1777

171

1 May 1777

Joseph Brant on Indigenous Allegiances, as recalled by Chainbreaker, circa May 1777
1 May 1777

Joseph Brant on Indigenous Allegiances, as recalled by Chainbreaker, circa May 1777
June 1777

699

20 June 1777
Cursive text. A paragraph appears at the top of the page, followed by two columns of names listed by date of swearing.

Pennsylvania Oaths of Allegiance, 20 June 1777–25 November 1778
20 June 1777
Cursive text. A paragraph appears at the top of the page, followed by two columns of names listed by date of swearing.

Pennsylvania Oaths of Allegiance, 20 June 1777–25 November 1778
July 1777

181

4 July 1777
Two pages from within a diary book. Each handwritten entry is separated by a horizontal line.

Extract from the Diary of Elizabeth Drinker, 4 July–18 December 1777
4 July 1777
Two pages from within a diary book. Each handwritten entry is separated by a horizontal line.

Extract from the Diary of Elizabeth Drinker, 4 July–18 December 1777
November 1777

809

15 November 1777
Cursive text. In large text at top of page reads "To all to whom."

Articles of Confederation, 15 November 1777
January 1779

182

1 January 1779

Extract from Samuel Rowland Fisher's Journal, 1779
1 January 1779

Extract from Samuel Rowland Fisher's Journal, 1779
June 1779

152

30 June 1779
Single column of print text of various sizes.

Philipsburg Proclamation, 30 June 1779
November 1779

104

12 November 1779
Cursive text.

Prince Whipple and Others' Freedom Petition to the New Hampshire General Court, 12 November 1779
April 1781

614

19 April 1781

John Adams, Memorial to the States General, 19 April 1781
September 1787

814

17 September 1787
Cursive handwriting. Top of the page, in large print reads, "We the People."

Constitution of the United States, 17 September 1787
June 1796

177

4 June 1796

Extract from Boston King's Memoirs, 4 June 1796
December 1818

580

4 December 1818
Document written by Thomas Jefferson about Benjamin Franklin, c.4 December 1818, page one.

Thomas Jefferson’s Anecdotes of Benjamin Franklin, circa 4 December 1818

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